Link to GST would have solved SCS issue: Chandrababu Naidu

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Friday that his priority was to protect the interests of the people of Andhra Pradesh in achieving special category status. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he had a 20-minute meeting in New Delhi earlier in the day, had promised to fulfill the assurances made during the state bifurcation soon in letter and spirit. Mr Naidu said he was hopeful of a positive response from the Centre on special status, and wished that it would be announced in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Giving details of his visit to Delhi, the Chief Minister said the Centre government had to fulfill its promise on special status. He said two years after bifurcation, AP was lagging behind in revenue earning with less urbanisation. He said the 14th Finance Commission had made it clear that AP would suffer a revenue deficit. Mr Naidu said the Centre should not compare AP considering the prevailing conditions.

He said that if voting on the GST Bill was linked to special status in the Rajya Sabha, the issue could have been settled by this time. He welcomed the GST Bill. He said that he had appealed to Mr Modi and Union minister Arun Jaitely to complete the Polavaram project on schedule as it was declared a national project.

He said the Centre should get clearances for the project. Mr Naidu said he had also asked for fulfilment of assurances in the AP Reorganisation Act including filling the deficit gap, development of the new capital, providing incentives to promote industry on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, a package for Rayalaseema and North Andhra on par with Bundelkhand, allotting Central offices and educational institutions, sanction of Visakhapatnam railway zone, Metro Rail projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, development of airports and increase of Assembly seats. He said that the Centre should take the initiative to settle the differences between AP and Telangana.

Godavari link to Penna by next Pushkar:

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the government aimed at linking the Godavari and Penna for the next Krishna Pushkaram. Mr Naidu said there should be no place for drought in the state and called up on the people every body should take oath on this way.

Mr Naidu said he had met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Min-ister Narendra Modi, BJP national leader L.K. Advani. He said that he discussed several Mr Modi and reiterated that the state’s special category issue should not be compared with other states.

He recalled that the special category status promise was given at the time of state bifurcation. The Centre had the responsibility to extend benefits. He said the Ce-ntre was requested to solve the issues between AP and TS.

The water sharing disputes should be cleared as per the directives of Supreme Court he asked and adding that the Centre should stand its assurance to enhance the Assembly seats.